The Rose family’s end-of-summer vacation was anything but relaxing when their trip to Lake Tahoe turned into a medical emergency. Rob, the father, woke up disoriented and confused, which is unusual but not completely unexpected, considering Rob is a quadriplegic. “It was really scary being away,” said Rob’s wife, Lisa, who had high hopes for this last getaway before the kids went back to school. It turns out that Rob had...

After hearing Jon say that he despises Kate and could not even sit next to his soon-to-be ex-wife on a sofa, I want to implore them to get a divorce coach. This is very different from couples therapy; the purpose of a divorce coach is to help the divorcing couple manage the process of the divorce, with the best interests of the children kept at the forefront. A divorce is a major life transition with financial, legal, and emotional...

Hope and courage! These are the two words that come to my mind while watching the statement made by Tina Dugard, Jaycee’s aunt, regarding the reunification and reconnection of Jaycee and her mom, Terry Probyn. I am extremely hopeful for Jaycee and her daughters. As a clinical psychologist, it was clear to me that the family is doing everything right in regards to beginning the healing process for Jaycee and her daughters. This is a time...

Nancy Garrido‘s attorney says that she misses and loves her daughters. She is, of course, referring to kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard‘s biological daughters, fathered by her accused captor and rapist Phillip Garrido — Nancy’s husband. Make no mistake about it, prosecutors have given Nancy Garrido equal billing when it comes to the criminal counts, hitting her with the same 29 charges her husband is facing — which...

Do you judge Jaycee Dugard for staying with her captors? You shouldn’t — and here’s why. As a psychologist and a mother, I have been getting a variety of responses regarding the Jaycee Dugard captivity situation. There have been more than a few mothers who said, “I wouldn’t have stayed. Why didn’t she leave?” It is important to understand the psychology of captivity. It is also imperative to understand...

OK, seriously. What is up with all the hateful talk about ex-spouses in the media right now? I understand these can be real, authentic feelings you are having, but please tell your therapist — not David Letterman! I think Jon and Kate Gosselin unleashed Pandora’s box of hatred for an ex and letting millions of people know about it. This is a BIG problem in our culture right now, and the only innocent victims are the children. Anne...